Contents:
- Medical Video: How cats become infected with feline coronavirus, the virus which causes FIP
- What is parvovirus?
- What is the transmission?
- What happens if the body is exposed to parvovirus?
Medical Video: How cats become infected with feline coronavirus, the virus which causes FIP
In addition to bacteria and fungi, the virus is also a source of various diseases. The amount is very large and can be found anywhere, one of which is parvovirus. If your body is exposed to this virus, what disease will it cause? Find out the answer below.
What is parvovirus?
Parvovirus is a virus that can attack pets and humans. There are also many types. The type of virus that can only attack humans is parvovirus b19, while parvovirus canine type 2 specifically attacks pets.
This virus is very contagious. However, parvovirus in animals will not spread and cause disease in humans. Vice versa.
What is the transmission?
Just like influenza viruses, parvovirus B19 is also transmitted through air or saliva droplets.
When the virus enters the body, the virus can spread through the blood and cause infection. If pregnant women are exposed to this virus, the mother can transmit the virus to the baby in the womb.
People tend to be exposed to this virus during the transition season, from the rainy season to the dry season. Compared to adults, this virus attacks children more often.
What happens if the body is exposed to parvovirus?
Parvovirus B19 infection is the most common cause of fifth disease aka fifth diseases in children. Fifth disease (erythema infectiosum) is a disease that causes the typical symptoms of a wide red rash on the cheek skin like being slapped. Children infected with this virus will usually experience fever, abdominal pain, headaches, and runny nose as early signs.
Then, the rash will appear a few days later. The rash does not only appear on the cheeks, it can also spread around the arms, thighs, buttocks, and soles of the feet. The rash can appear and disappear for about three weeks. But it can also be more than that, if the child spends too much time in the sun.
Meanwhile, if an adult is infected with pavovirus B19, the cheek rash does not tend to occur. The most prominent symptom is joint pain accompanied by swelling. Joint pain most often occurs in the hands, wrists, knees or ankles.
People with weakened immune systems and fetuses infected with pavovirus can cause anemia. While if people with anemia are infected with this virus, serious complications can occur because the production of red blood cells decreases.
